How to obtain copies of Alaska vital records, such as Alaska birth certificates, Alaska death records, Alaska marriage licenses & Alaska divorce decrees. See the guidelines for general information on how to order vital records. Check the related links for additional vital records and genealogical information on Alaska.

Please Note: The information contained on these pages is not guaranteed, as addresses and prices change frequently. It is recommended that you confirm the price and address by calling the vital records office before you place your order. This web site is not associated with any government office.

Access to death, marriage and divorce records filed in the Bureau of Vital Statistics office is restricted for 50 years after the date of the event to family members and their legal representatives. When ordering a death, marriage, or divorce record, you must state your relationship to the person named on the certificate, or your reason for needing the record.

Money order should be made payable to Bureau of Vital Statistics. Personal checks are not accepted. Print and fill out the appropriate form and mail to the address indicated. Please allow four to six weeks after the request is received by the Bureau for delivery of the certificate.

The Anchorage Genealogical Society has been publishing the early birth records in its Quarterly.

A person may obtain only his or her own birth certificate, except for parents who may obtain their own child's certificate. Access to birth records becomes available to the public 100 years after the event.

If the records are not available at the State office, they should be available from the Clerk of Superior Court in judicial district where divorce was granted. Divorce records are sealed for 50 years. Juneau and Ketchikan (First District), Nome (Second District), Anchorage (Third District), and Fairbanks (Fourth District).

There are many reasons people seek vital records. Perhaps a copy of a birth certificate is needed for identification purposes, or a death certificate for insurance reasons. Or maybe a person is seeking a marriage certificate to aid in their familyís genealogy research. Whatever the reason is, Alaska vital records are frequently requested. Here is some basic information about Alaska vital records:

What information is contained in vital records?

Generally speaking, vital records contain information about births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. These records are kept on file at governmental offices, and different states have different sets of rules regarding their distribution. In Alaska, where records have been maintained since 1913, birth certificates become part of the public record 100 years after the birth, and death, marriage, and divorce are available for public viewing 50 years following the event. All records are kept confidential until they become public record, with the exception of marriage license applications. People can request copies of these vital records, but there are certain restrictions on who can obtain these statistics.

Why do people request Alaska vital records?

People request vital statistics for a number of reasons. Oftentimes, they are requested simply so family members can have a copy of this pertinent information on file. Birth certificates are often used as a form of identification, and death certificates are needed to prove that an individual has expired, usually for insurance or financial purposes. Marriage and divorce certificates are frequently used in genealogy research (especially marriage certificates), and simply to prove that a marriage or divorce occurred or to adjust an individualís status for governmental purposes.

How are Alaska vital records obtained?

In Alaska, people can request vital records by providing certain information and following particular guidelines, as detailed below:

Birth records

Records can only be requested by the individual named on the certificate, or by the parents or legal guardian of the individual on the certificate.

A request form must be completely filled out with a copy of a government-issued picture ID of the person making the request.

Death records

Death records can only be requested by family members of the deceased (spouse, parent, child, or sibling) or to a legal representative or other person providing information that the certificate is required for determination of property rights.

A request form must be completely filled out with a copy of a government-issued picture ID of the person making the request.

Marriage/divorce records

Only the husband and wife can request a copy of a marriage or divorce certificate. Legal representatives may also obtain copies of records.

A request form must be completely filled out with a copy of a government-issued picture ID of the person making the request.

All requests must be mailed or faxed to the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics, or they can be hand delivered at the Bureauís offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau. Expect to pay a processing fee to obtain the records and to receive them in approximately 2-3 weeks.